Scaffolding Board With Detachable Hook Fitting

ABSTRACT

Scaffolding board ( 1 ) including a section ( 1′ ) with a substantially flat surface ( 2 ) for persons staying on this surface. The scaffolding board includes a fitting ( 11 ) with hooks ( 9 ) at the end of the section ( 1′ ) for securing the assembled scaffolding board ( 1 ) on a traverse board. The fitting ( 11 ) includes two lugs ( 13 ), and the section ( 1′ ) correspondingly includes two openings ( 12 ) in the surface ( 2 ) at a distance from the end of the section ( 1′ ) for accommodating the lugs ( 13 ) in the openings ( 12 ). The fitting ( 11 ) furthermore includes a flat part ( 15 ) between the at least one lug and the hooks ( 9 ) for bearing against the underside ( 16 ) of the scaffolding board.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a scaffolding board including a sectionwith a substantially flat surface for persons staying on this surface,and including a fitting with hooks at the end of the section forsecuring the assembled scaffolding board on a transverse beam, where thefitting includes at least one lug, and where the section includes atleast one opening spaced apart from the end of the section foraccommodating a lug in the opening, and where the fitting furthermoreincludes a flat part between the at least one lug and the hooks forbearing against the underside of the section.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

Scaffolding boards of the type with a board surface, which has adownwards facing L-shaped side member at each longitudinal side forsubstantially constituting a total C-shaped cross-section, are known.Such a scaffolding board is shown on FIG. 1.

At each end of such a scaffolding board, by means of rivets or hooksthere is fastened a set of hooks that engage in over transversescaffolding beams. When making scaffolding boards, it is important tominimise the time for making and the number of manufacturing steps forcompetitive reasons.

Furthermore, from GB-A-1 400 973 it is known with a scaffolding board ofthe type mentioned in the introduction. The scaffolding boards describedin this publication are held in place as the fitting is saddle-shaped,so that it is symmetric at both sides of the transverse beam and therebyloaded on both sides of the transverse beam. If one scaffolding board isremoved, the weight on one side of the transverse beam will cause thefitting to be twisted about the transverse beam, and in the worst case,the lug may be twisted out of the opening. This constitutes a hazard andis therefore a drawback which is connected with the prior artscaffolding board.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore the intention of the invention to provide a scaffoldingboard which relieves the drawbacks associated with prior art scaffoldingboards, and which require fewer resources in the manufacturing thereofthan prior art scaffolding boards.

This purpose is fulfilled by a scaffolding board of the kind mentionedin the introduction, which is peculiar in that the opening is providedin the surface, and that the lug is resting on the edge of the opening.

The making of such a scaffolding board is simple and requires fewerresources than by prior art scaffolding boards, which is described moreclosely in the following. The section of the scaffolding board can bemade in long runs, e.g. by extrusion, and adapted to the correct lengthfor scaffolding boards. The scaffolding boards may optionally beprovided with a pattern of holes and projections in order to reduceweight and to prevent people walking on the scaffolding board fromslipping on the surface. Fittings can be made separately, with hooks onone side of a flat part and lugs on the other side of the flat part.These fittings are passed into the end of the section, and the lugs areprovided in corresponding openings in the section. Under load, where thehooks grip over the transverse beam and workers are standing on thescaffolding board, the fitting is thereby locked to the section, whichwill be effected irrespectively whether scaffolding boards are disposedin succession, resting on the transverse beam, and irrespectivelywhether possible succeeding scaffolding boards have about the sameweight. Thus there will be no risk that a twist turning the fittingabout the transverse beam occurs. Thus it is possible to avoid the riskthat the lug is twisted out of the opening. In this way, assembly of thescaffolding board is rapid and easy. In addition, it is possible toreplace a set of hooks if this would appear necessary.

The fitting has typically two lugs, and the section has twocorresponding openings for receiving the two lugs. In a concreteembodiment, the fitting has an angular part which is rectangular inrelation to the flat part in order to at least partly cover the end ofthe section. In addition, the hooks may be fastened to this angularpart. This measure makes the fitting very stable in transversedirection, and the mounting is very simple.

In one embodiment, the section includes a pair of sectional sidemembers, and the fitting includes a pair of side pieces for bearingagainst the inner side of the side members of the section. In this wayit is ensured that the fitting is held securely in the section withoutany lateral slipping of the fitting in the section. Besides, the sidemembers of the section can be provided with means for a fixing devicefor fixing the fitting in relation to the section. For example, themeans for a fixing device may include holes for accommodating screwbolts in the holes. The fitting and the section will typically each havetwo holes for accommodating screw bolts in the holes. Two bolts in eachend are only half as many screw bolts or screws traditionally used inscaffolding boards according to prior art. This means saving of time andcosts compared with prior art. Besides, this entails that thescaffolding board achieves stability against outwards bending of theside members under load from above.

Alternatively, the fixing device may include a snap lock, where aresilient safety tab is acting as a barb against separation of thefitting from the section. This form in particular ensures very rapidassembly of the scaffolding board.

In another embodiment, the section has a surface which is connected withL-shaped side members at a right angle from the surface in order toconstitute an edged C-section. Such C-sections are easy to make andsuited as scaffolding boards.

In order to prevent that a worker on a scaffolding board according tothe invention stumbles over the lugs, in a further embodiment theopenings for the lugs may have an edge which is lowered under the levelof the surface so that the lugs, after being received in the openings,do not substantially project above the level of the scaffolding board.

The fitting may furthermore include a plate which is pivotably connectedto the fitting and which, after placing the hooks on a beam, by actionmay engage under the beam and prevent that the hooks can be lifted offthe beam.

As it appears from the above, the invention provides for a number ofadvantages which are not described in the prior art to the same extent.The advantages include simple construction, rapid and easy assembly andseparation, fewer components, good load distribution between fitting andsection, and increased security during use.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is described more closely with reference to the drawing,where

FIG. 1 shows a drawing of a scaffolding board according to prior art invarious perspective views;

FIG. 2 shows a drawing of a scaffolding board according to the inventionin three perspective views;

FIG. 3 shows a photo of two scaffolding boards according to theinvention as seen from above and from below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

On FIG. 1 is shown a draughting of a scaffolding board 1 according toprior art in three different perspective views, namely as cross-section1, longitudinal section and as seen from above. The board has a boardsurface 2 two downwards facing L-shaped sections as side members 3 withback 5 and bottom flange 6 in order thereby to constitute an assembledand more or less sharp-edged C-shaped cross-section. Scaffolding boardsare typically provided with holes 4 so that dust and rain do notaccumulate on the surface 2. At each end of such a scaffolding board, aset of hooks 9, which grip in over transverse scaffolding beams 10, arefastened by means of rivets or screws 7 and suitable fittings 8.Assembling the scaffolding board during manufacturing requires severalsteps, where several fittings 8 and several screws 7 are assembled intoa unit.

In the scaffolding board according to the invention, as shown inperspective view on FIG. 2, each set of hooks 9 are welded onto afitting 11 which is fastened to the scaffolding board 1. FIG. 2A showsone end of the scaffolding board as seen towards this end, FIG. 2B showsthe end of the scaffolding board as seen from the side, and FIG. 2C apart of the scaffolding board seen obliquely from below.

In comparison, photos of scaffolding boards according to the inventionare shown on FIG. 3, from above in FIG. 3A and from below in FIG. 3B.

The fitting 11 has a flat part 16 which is seen best on FIG. 2C andwhich after mounting is bearing on the underside 17 of the C-section 1′and an angular part 18 on which the hooks 9 are welded. The fitting 11furthermore includes a set of curving lugs 13 in continuation of theflat part 16 for engaging corresponding openings 12 in the surface ofthe scaffolding board 2. For assembling the scaffolding board 1, thefitting 11 with the hooks 9 is inserted in the end of the C-section 1′of the scaffolding board at an angle, where the hooks 9 are pointingobliquely downwards in relation to the C-section 1′. With thisorientation, the curving lugs 13 are passed into the openings 12, afterwhich the fitting 11 is tilted upwards until the upper edge of the flatpart 16 between the lugs 13 and the hooks 9 rest against the lower edge17 of the C-section 1′. At the same time, each of the lugs 13 will reston the edge 15 of the respective opening 12. When the hooks 9 rest on abeam, the load on the scaffolding board 1 from above will prevent thelugs 13 from sliding out of the openings 12. Thereby is achieved a rapidassembly of the fittings 11 prefabricated by machine with hooks 9 andthe C-sections 1′ of the scaffolding boards 1.

The system has further advantages, such as increased security. Forexample, a down-wards directed load on the scaffolding board 1 aftermounting with the hooks 9 on respective beams only entails a load on thelugs 13 in the openings 12, but no load on possible screws, bolts orother fittings, as known from prior art.

For further securing, the C-section 1′ and the fitting 11 are, however,only provided with a fixing device, in this case holes 14, 14′ in theside members 3 of the section 1′, see FIG. 2B, and in the correspondingside pieces 19 of the fitting 11, see FIG. 2C, in which bolts may befastened. Thereby increased stability is achieved which counteractsdeflection of the side members 3 under load from above, for example whena worker moves on the board. This fixing device may also be achievedwith self-tapping screws, or even with a snap lock where a resilientsafety tab can act as a barb against separation of the two assembledparts, i.e. the C-section 1′ and the fitting 11. In particular, a snaplock may minimise the assembling time for the board.

As there is no load on this fixing device under load from above on thescaffolding board, the dimensioning is not critical. Moreover, loosing abolt or a screw through the holes 14, 14′ will not imply any hazard, asthe scaffolding plank will still be intact and fulfil its functionwithout risk to the workers walking on the board.

In order to minimise the risk of a worker on the scaffolding boardstumbling over the lugs 13, the part 15 of the opening 12 where the lug13 engages the surface 2 of the scaffolding board may be recessed. Inthat case, during mounting the fitting is not to be tilted with the lugs13 into the openings 12, but the fitting may be slid into the end of theC-shaped section 1′ of the scaffolding board until the lugs 13 engagethe recessed part of the opening 12. In this way, the top side of thelugs 13 would be at level with the top side 2 of the scaffolding board.By such a combination of fittings 11 and C-section 1′, the height of thefitting 11 may be adapted to the inner height of the C-section, as thereis no need for tilting the fitting 11 during assembly. Furthermore, itwill provide a good distribution of the forces under load from above. Inthat case also there will be no load on the fixing device, e.g. bolts orscrews through the holes 14, 14′, or alternatively a snap lock.

If the scaffolding board 1 is provided with projections and holes asshown on FIG. 3A and the projections have a height approximatelycorresponding to the height of the lug 13 when this is provided in theopening 12, these openings will provide for the lug not acting as anedge that is easily stumbled over.

As it appears from FIG. 3B, the scaffolding boards may be provided witha safety device so that the hooks are retained around a beam on whichthey rest. In this case, the safety device is a plate which is pivotablyconnected to the fitting, and which by correct positioning grips inunder the beam and prevents the hooks from being lifted off the beam.

1. Scaffolding board (1) including a section (1′) with a substantiallyflat surface (2) for persons staying on this surface, and including afitting (11) with hooks (9) at the end of the section (1) for securingthe assembled scaffolding board (1) on a transverse beam, where thefitting (11) includes at least one lug (13), and where the section (1′)includes at least one opening (12) spaced apart from the end of thesection (1′) for accommodating a lug (3) in the opening (12), and wherethe fitting (11) furthermore includes a flat part (16) between the atleast one lug and the hooks (9) for bearing against the underside (17)of the section (1′), characterised in that the opening (12) is providedin the surface (2), and that the lug (13) is resting on the edge of theopening (15).
 2. Scaffolding board according to claim 1, wherein thefitting (11) has two lugs and the section (1′) has two openings (12) forreceiving the two lugs (13).
 3. Scaffolding board according to claim 1,wherein the fitting (11) has an angular part (18) which is rectangularin relation to the flat part (16) in order thereby to at least partlycover the end of the section (1′) where the hooks (9) are fastened tothe angular part (18).
 4. Scaffolding board according to claim 1,wherein the section (1′) includes a pair of sectional side members (3,3′), and the fitting includes a pair of side pieces (19) for bearingagainst the inner side of the side members of the section (1′). 5.Scaffolding board according to claim 4, wherein the side pieces (19) ofthe fitting and the side members (3, 3′) of the section are providedwith means for a fixing device for securing the fitting (11) in relationto the section (1′).
 6. Scaffolding board according to claim 5, whereinthe means for a fixing device includes holes for accommodating screwbolts in the holes.
 7. Scaffolding board according to claim 5, whereinthe means for a fixing device includes a snap lock, where a resilientsafety tab acts as a barb against separation of the fitting (11) fromthe section (1′).
 8. Scaffolding board according to claim 1, wherein thesection (1′) has a surface (2) which is connected with L-shaped sidemembers (3, 3′) at a right angle from the surface, in order thereby toconstitute a edged C-section.
 9. Scaffolding board according to claim 1,wherein the at least one opening (12) of the section (1) for the lugs(13) has an edge which is lowered under the level of the surface (2) inorder that the at least one lug (13) does not protrude substantiallyabove the level of the surface (2) after being accommodated in theopening.
 10. Scaffolding board according to claim 1, wherein the fittingincludes a plate which is pivotably connected to the fitting and which,after placing the hooks on a beam, by action may engage under the beamand prevent that the hooks can be lifted off the beam.